TY - JOUR T1 - The mixed reality medical ward round with the MS HoloLens 2: Innovation in reducing COVID-19 transmission and PPE usage JF - Future Healthcare Journal JO - Future Healthc J SP - e127 LP - e130 DO - 10.7861/fhj.2020-0146 VL - 8 IS - 1 AU - Jeremy B Levy AU - Edmund Kong AU - Nathan Johnson AU - Ashni Khetarpal AU - James Tomlinson AU - Guy FK Martin AU - Anisha Tanna Y1 - 2021/03/01 UR - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/8/1/e127.abstract N2 - Background The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated changes to the traditional medical ward round to protect staff and patients. This study investigated the value and acceptability of using the Microsoft HoloLens 2 mixed reality headset in a COVID-19 renal medicine ward.Methods The HoloLens 2 was used during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and it was compared with the days prior to its introduction. Staff exposure to COVID-19 and PPE usage were measured, and staff and patients were surveyed on the HoloLens 2 experience.Results The average ward round was significantly shorter with the use of the HoloLens 2 (94 minutes vs 137 minutes; p=0.006). With the HoloLens 2, only the consultant was in direct contact with COVID-19 patients compared with up to seven staff members on a normal ward round. Personal protective equipment usage was reduced by over 50%. Both staff and patients were positive about its use but raised some important concerns.Conclusion The HoloLens 2 mixed reality technology is an innovative solution to the challenges posed by COVID-19 to the traditional medical ward round. ER -